17 February 2006

Putting it to bed

Ok, so this topic is getting a bit tired so I’ll make this my last foray into the small minded world of University of Washington student politics. Below is an excerpt from an article in today’s “The Daily”, the student paper on campus at UW. Since those who were interviewed have obviously been tutored at the Hillary Clinton school of conversational misdirection and communist PC rhetoric, I’ll translate for you.

“Hate mail and threatening voicemails flooded in to students who spoke out against an ASUW Student Senate resolution this week.
Translation: People reacted angrily to the idea that Marines and those who serve our country in the armed forces should be considered second class citizens on the UW campus.

The resolution, which aimed to create an on-campus tribute to World War II fighter pilot Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, was voted down last Tuesday. Senate Chair Alex Kim cast the tie-breaking vote after a lengthy debate.
Kim and ASUW President Lee Dunbar responded to community lashings at the beginning of last night's Senate meeting.

Uh oh, here comes the righteous indignation of the patently unrighteous…

Dunbar commended the Senate's debate and said he was appalled by the hateful responses members received. He said he hopes the Senate can continue to operate in an open, non-threatening environment.
Translation: Dunbar is happy that after about 3 minutes of bashing the memory of Col. Boyington the budding bolsheviks were able to squelch the facts and quickly move to a vote against the resolution. He’s also incensed that anyone would dare take issue with his little anti-armed forces puppet show and hopes that in the future people who feel differently from him and his brood will just not talk about it in order to support the council’s self esteem.

Senate members received hateful phone calls and e-mails after their personal information was posted on Internet sites and blogs. ASUW vice president Ashley Miller said she received between 50 and 100 threatening letters from people outside the UW community. Miller was one of the main contributors to the resolution's debate.
Translation: Senate members were shocked to learn that rumors of their idiocy had spread beyond the soft walls of the academia cocoon and that they were ACTUALLY going to have to take responsibility for things that they said in a public forum. *gasp* Furthermore the ASUW Vice President felt threatened when people all over the country dared to tell her she was wrong.

"The information about what happened that night was sent out to different sources and people were misquoted and misrepresented," she said. "This just got ridiculous, everything was blown totally out of proportion."
Translation: *backpedal backpedal backpedal backpedal* Mrs. Miller can’t figure out why so many people are upset and thinks they should all just go home and be more sensitive.

I’ve read the minutes from this meeting, and in doing so was reminded of why we need limited government. It truly sickens me to think that this type of occurrence is not the exception but the rule on college campuses across the country. I encourage all of you to keep writing in to people like these and letting them know that outside their little bubble there are people who are indeed watching them and holding them responsible for their actions. If you need any further proof that these sorry sacks think they should act with impunity and without responsibility, read the final minutes of the actual debate below.

Evan Roberts moved to close debate. Seconded.

Objection. The motion failed.

Division was called. The motion passed.

Debate was closed on the resolution.

Division was called on the resolution. The vote was tied.

Alex Kim noted that in the case of a tie, the Senate Chair cast the tiebreaking vote.

Alex Kim voted nay. The resolution failed.

Zachary Tobin called for a roll call vote.

Alex Kim called the motion out of order as the results of the vote had already been announced.

3 comments:

Joubert said...

As Lenin said. "If you want to postpone a decision, form a committee." I don't know which I hate more - committee type folk or petty bureaucrats.

Whitney said...

aren't they the interchangeable?

Anonymous said...

I co-sponsored this resolution, in no way did I bash Boyington. Anyway I find your analysis interesting....